Crows' Talia set to make AFL comeback

Adelaide key defender Daniel Talia has been cleared to make his comeback from knee surgery in Friday night's AFL pre-season game against GWS.

DANIEL TALIA of the Crows is tackled by Jack Silvagni of the Blues during the AFL match between the Carlton Blues and the Adelaide Crows at MCG in Melbourne, Australia. Picture:Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Adelaide's defensive pillar Daniel Talia will make his comeback from knee surgery in an AFL pre-season game on Friday night.

And Talia will face increasingly difficult times in the backline because of new rules, his fellow defender Rory Laird says.

Talia, who had surgery last December on a left knee problem, has been cleared to play in a trial game against GWS in Canberra.

"It's a massive boost, he's pretty much the leader back there," Laird told reporters on Wednesday.

"He has been running for ages now ... he's just itching to get back out there."

Laird said AFL defenders should brace for tougher times given the new rules which dictate six players from each side must start in each area of the ground - defence, midfield and attack.

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